Several children have been hurt after the roof of a school double-decker bus was ripped off when it hit a low bridge.

Among the injured was an eight-year-old boy who was taken to hospital with a "non-serious" head injury following the crash on Spendmore Lane, Coppull, Lancashire, at about 12:30 GMT.

The bus was carrying some pupils from Wood Fold Primary School, in Standish, Wigan, the BBC understands. The school declined to comment.

Paramedics assessed the children at the scene and all but the eight-year-old boy were discharged from their care, North West Ambulance Service said. Emergency services remain at the scene and a road closure is in place.



"A number of children suffered injuries, which are thankfully thought to be relatively minor at this time," Lancashire Police said.

A rail operator has urged bus drivers to "carefully plan their routes" after a double decker got wedged under a railway bridge.

The bus got stuck under the bridge on Duke Street in Chelmsford on Wednesday, blocking a bus gate - a section of road only buses can use - from 17:30 BST until 18:45 BST.

Network Rail said trains started running again after the bus was freed, but urged drivers to be careful as similar incidents cost "millions of pounds" every year.

The bridge is on the Great Eastern Main Line between London and Norwich. Bus operator First Bus said it was investigating the incident.



A Network Rail spokesperson said trains to and from Chelmsford were delayed. They added: "Our teams were quickly on site to inspect the bridge. Once the bus was safely removed and no structural damage was confirmed, normal train services resumed by 18:56.  Bridge strikes like this cost taxpayers millions of pounds each year and are entirely preventable. We urge drivers to always consider the height and size of their vehicles, including any loads they are carrying, and to carefully plan their routes to avoid incidents that put our infrastructure at risk."

In a statement, First Bus said it "assisted emergency crews and recovery teams following an incident involving one of our service 372 buses hitting the Duke Street railway bridge in Chelmsford as it was travelling towards Colchester".  "We have not been made aware of any injuries, and we will be undertaking a full investigation," it added.

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: "Every road user has the responsibility of being aware of their surroundings and driving safely, and this bridge clearly displays a height limit of 12ft 6in (3.8m).  Drivers must be careful when passing under structures and make sure their vehicle's fit before making the attempt."

A spokesperson for Essex Police said no passengers were on the bus and there were no reported injuries. The force said the road under the bridge had been closed to pedestrians for a "short time".

That's the aqueduct carrying the Bridgwater Canal ...

Changes considered after bus bridge crash

Transport bosses are looking at changing routes and adding more warning signs after a double decker bus crashed into a bridge.

The vehicle's roof was torn off as it struck the Bridgewater Canal Aqueduct on Barton Lane in Eccles, Salford on Monday, with three people seriously injured and 17 others also hurt.

The Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester Vernon Everitt said passengers' safety was the Bee Network's "top priority" as he revealed Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham had asked him to produce an "urgent report" on the incident.

As well as a police investigation, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched its own probe into the crash.

A 19-year-old woman, and two men, one aged in his 20s and another in his 40s, sustained serious injuries and remain in hospital in a stable condition, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

The driver, a man in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by careless driving and has been bailed pending further inquiries.

Everitt said TfGM is fully supporting GMP's investigation and all available CCTV from the bus has now been recovered by the operator, Stagecoach, and passed to the force.

TfGM was working with Stagecoach, Salford City Council as the local highway authority and Peel, as the owner of the aqueduct, on its own probe into the collision, he said. This includes why the 100 service bus was "not taking its usual route", a TFGM spokesman said.

They have also agreed several short-term measures to be implemented as soon as possible including new and additional warning measures – including further signage at and near the bridge.

TfGM has also sought reassurances from bus operators, local authorities and others with responsibility for managing and maintaining low bridges about how they will mitigate measures to prevent further strikes.

Everitt said it was looking at potentially re-routing services away from the Barton Lane bridge. He said Burnham has asked him to look into the circumstances around the crash and make recommendations about wider implications for safety on the network. "I have heard very clearly the concern from the local community that there have been many other collisions at this location over many years," the transport commissioner said. He said he has also spoken to the head of a bus operator involved in a separate collision into a low bridge on Ten Acres Lane in Newton Heath on Tuesday.



A Metroline Manchester training bus was being driven by a trainee driver when it struck a bridge, but no passengers were onboard, and nobody was injured.

Everitt said that incident would be thoroughly investigated, too, and form part of his report. He said it was also helping to support those impacted by the "deeply distressing event".  "Our commitment to safe operations is absolute. Core to this will be the further development of a Bee Network safety standard, as part of our long-term Vision Zero strategy and plan to eliminate death and serious injuries on the city region's roads."

Bus driver arrested after 20 injured in bridge crash

The driver of a double-decker bus that crashed into a canal bridge injuring 20 people, including three who were seriously hurt, has been arrested.

A passenger was thrown from the top deck when the vehicle's roof was torn off as it struck the Bridgewater Canal Aqueduct on Barton Lane in Eccles, Salford on Monday, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

The force said a 19-year-old woman, and two men, one aged in his 20s and another in his 40s, sustained serious injuries and remain in hospital in a stable condition.

The driver, a man in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by careless driving and has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Police said 17 other people were also treated at the scene for injuries that were "non-life threatening or life-changing".

Barton Lane has since been reopened, and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said it has launched an "immediate and urgent" investigation into the circumstances of the crash. This includes why the 100 service bus was "not taking its usual route", a TFGM spokesman said.



Police said there are height restriction warnings in place by the bridge, including hanging chains and signs.

Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester Vernon Everitt said: "We are working closely with the investigation team at Greater Manchester Police and the bus operator, Stagecoach. This is clearly a distressing situation for everyone involved and we'd like to thank emergency services for their swift response."

The road was closed into Monday evening with diversions in place as authorities worked to move the damaged bus.



Labour MP for Worsley and Eccles Michael Wheeler said the crash was "unacceptable".  "It's not the first time this has happened, so after understanding what's happened we need to do everything we can to make sure it doesn't happen again," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

A bus has previously had its roof ripped off after striking the same bridge in April 2023.

Fifteen people have been injured, one critically, as a double-decker bus had its roof torn off after striking a bridge.

The vehicle crashed at the junction of Barton Road and Trafford Road in Eccles, Salford, at about 15:00 BST, Greater Manchester Police said.

North West Ambulance Service said 15 people were treated at the scene and then taken to hospital. Three people have sustained serious injuries. One of them is in a critical condition.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said the bus was a 100 service in operation at the time of the crash.



A large number of paramedics, including an air ambulance, attended the scene. Road closures are in place, with police advising people to avoid the area.

North West Ambulance Service said it had sent 10 emergency ambulances, its hazard response team and colleagues from North West Air Ambulance, with the first team arriving at 15.10.

"NWAS treated 15 patients who were all taken to Salford Royal or Manchester Royal Infirmary hospitals," it added.



(BBC articles continues)

Eight people have been taken to hospital after a double decker bus crashed into a railway bridge tearing its roof off in Kilmarnock.

Emergency services were called to the collision on Macphail Drive, near Culzean Crescent, in Kilmarnock at about 14:00 and police sealed off the area.

Footage of the scene posted on social media showed people standing on top of the roofless bus near the bridge, which is marked for vehicles below a certain height.

It comes just days after another double decker bus crashed into a railway bridge in Glasgow, leaving one man critical in hospital.





A spokesperson for the Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed one ambulance and three response teams were dispatched to the scene at 13:55.

Police Scotland later confirmed eight people had been taken to hospital in total, though there were no reports of serious injuries.

A spokesperson for the force said inquiries into the crash were ongoing.

The number six Stagecoach bus, which was heading to Bellfield in Kilmarnock, travelled under the bridge at Macphail Drive.

The roof of the bus was completely torn off and remained behind while the vehicle passed through the tunnel.

A sign near the bridge states it is not suitable for vehicles over 8ft 3ins (2.5m) high.

A teenager who was on the top deck of the bus said he was still in shock after the incident. He said there were about 11 teenagers on the upper level.

He told BBC Scotland News: "We were supposed to take a right but the bus driver took a completely different route and went under the railway bridge, which we're not supposed to do. The bus was going at some speed, about 30 or 40mph. The driver was hitting the brakes the whole way through and the whole roof of the bus got taken off. It just got crushed and glass went everywhere, I can feel the glass on me.  People on the bus knew it was going to happen before it happened. It was really scary."

The boy said he was not badly injured, but he had a sore neck and scratches from the smashed glass. "I can't explain the sound, it was like a massive crashing sound all the way through the bridge," he added. "And then hearing all the glass falling and feeling it, it was horrible."

Joshua Hollywood, who lives opposite the bridge, said people in the area came out to help those on the bus.  He said: "There was a couple of people injured, nothing too bad thank god. A few cuts and scrapes. The kids were pretty shook up but the ambulances got here pretty promptly. People from across the road, everyone that was in the area, all came out to try and help the kids that were in danger."

A Stagecoach West Scotland spokesperson confirmed the bus had struck a low bridge.  They said investigations were ongoing and the bus company was working closely with police.


The vehicle was later removed from the scene

ScotRail confirmed that no rail services are affected.

Network Rail engineers inspected the bridge - a spokesperson later said it had not sustained any structural damage.

Eight people have been injured, including one person in critical condition, after a double-decker bus crashed into a railway bridge in Glasgow city centre.

Part of the roof of the 4A First Bus was torn off, with the vehicle wedged under the bridge on Cook Street at the junction with Commerce Street.

Five people were taken by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for treatment after the crash at about 18:00 GMT on Saturday, while three others were assessed at the scene and attended hospital.

Spike Turner, a passenger who was third from the front of the bus, said the driver had taken a wrong turn and crashed "straight into the bridge".

A number of roads are closed in the area.

The street is one-way and the bridge, near the O2 Academy, is located shortly after a turn - though is clearly marked for vehicles under 3.8 metres (12.5 ft).



Mr Turner said: "I was fine, the lady in front of me might have been concussed. The bridge itself wasn't high enough to hit anyone's heads but parts of the bus exterior have swung down.  The man in the front seat was in a really, really bad state. He's got a lot of blood and a massive gash on his head."

First Bus earlier said it was aware of numerous injuries and that one person had been taken to hospital.  A spokesperson said: "We have launched an immediate investigation and are also assisting Police Scotland with their inquiries."

ScotRail has closed a number of lines due to the crash.  A spokesperson said train services between Glasgow Central and Ardrossan Harbour, Ayr, Largs, Gourock, Wemyss Bay and Paisley Canal will be cancelled, delayed or revised.

Police have sealed off Cook Street at Centre Street, Commerce Street until Wallace Street and Salkeld Street to Cook Street.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland urged drivers to avoid the area.

Network Rail and the Scottish Ambulance Service have been approached for comment.

In May last year, 10 people were taken to hospital after a bus crashed into the same railway bridge.

Two people have been taken to hospital after a bus hit a tree and its roof was "taken clean off".

The incident happened on Hedgemans Road in Dagenham, east London, at about 10:00 GMT, the Metropolitan Police said.

Images of the aftermath posted on social media appeared to show that the roof of the bus had been ripped off.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended the scene where they found two injured women who were taken to hospital as a precaution, the Met said.



Their injuries are not life-threatening nor life-changing, the force added.

Stevie Fletcher, who lives nearby, said: "I heard sirens and looked out of my window to see emergency services just up the road.  I went to have a look and the bus roof had been taken clean off, apparently by a tree."

Police inquiries into the cause of the crash continue.

Having seen pics from the other side, it?s merely grazed it?s way in. Let some air out the tyres and reverse it out. I?m sure there is reasons why they can?t do that

Staff are letting down tyres to see if they can move the double decker coach.

THE coach has now been removed from under the bridge.

Bringing back one (or perhaps two) old favourites - from Facebook this morning

Double decker v bridge. Bridge wins.

The roof of a double-decker bus was torn off when it passed under a low railway bridge.
The top of the vehicle was "completely removed" when it went through the tunnel in Bournville Lane, Birmingham, according to a paramedic who attended.
Photos show extensive damage to the National Express West Midlands bus, which was out of service at the time.
No passengers were on board and the driver, in his 30s, was not injured.

Driver charged over Edinburgh hospital bus crash



The 21-year-old driver of a double-decker bus that crashed at an Edinburgh hospital, injuring eight people, has been charged with dangerous driving.

The roof of the bus was ripped off by an overhead walkway at the Western General Hospital on Sunday afternoon.

Six of the injured, men and women aged between 14 and 60, were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.

None of the injuries was thought to be life-threatening.

Police Scotland said the road was reopened on Sunday evening and a report would be submitted to the procurator fiscal.

It also appears to be a 'party bus' rather than a service bus so possible that the driver was unfamiliar with the route, not that that is really any excuse of course.

Bus hits bridge in Tottenham, injuring 26 people



Five people have been taken to hospital and a further 21 injured after the roof of a bus was ripped off when it hit a railway bridge in north London.

Firefighters rescued three people who were trapped on the top deck after the roof was torn off in the crash on St Loys Road, Tottenham.

Emergency services were called at 04:05 BST. None of the injuries is believed to be life-threatening.

The vehicle appeared to be being used by a party bus company, Vault London.

The company hires out double-decker buses for private events with on-board cocktail bars and DJ booths. No-one from Vault London was available for comment.

Network Rail has declared the bridge safe, a spokesman for London Fire Brigade said. Scotland Yard said it was continuing to investigate the incident.

Room for one more on top! Rail replacement bus loses its roof after driver tries to go under low bridge

Traffic chaos has ensued on a busy road in Bodmin this rush-hour after a double-decker bus hit a bridge. The bus became wedged under the railway bridge on Launceston Road, where roadworks are currently underway.
The bus, which was heading in the direction of the town centre at around 7.30am, is operated by FirstGroup. It was heading to Truro College, which tweeted that the service has been delayed.

Royal Mail truck got stuck under the bridge at Plymouth station today.



I looked on Google Streetview, and cant see a height sign present from one direction

It looks like a Royal Mail lorry driver's made a first class error after apparently becoming stuck under a bridge.

The huge red lorry appears to be firmly wedged under a railway bridge on Pennycomequick Hill on the A386 - near to Plymouth Train Station.



Alex Holmes tweeted this picture from the scene this evening. It's one of the major routes into the city centre.

Roof ripped off bus in Middleton railway bridge smash


The bus was out of service and no passengers were on board

The roof of a double-decker bus was ripped off when it crashed into a railway bridge.

The Stagecoach bus was returning to depot when it collided with the bridge in Joshua Lane, Middleton, Greater Manchester, at about 19:00 BST on Tuesday.

No passengers on board and the driver was uninjured.

Greater Manchester Police tweeted a picture with the caption: "Big recover bill and 1 less bus on the roads".

The force later tweeted: "Luckily no one was on the top deck and no one hurt."

Stagecoach confirmed the bus was out of service and the company was assisting police with inquiries.

It is also carrying out its own investigation.

Bus loses roof in Bournemouth bridge crash


The bus kept going for about 30m after its roof was taken off

The roof of a double decker bus carrying overseas students was sliced off while going under a railway bridge in Bournemouth.

Two 13-year old girls received minor injuries as the roof came off when the unmarked bus travelled under the bridge at Clingan Road shortly before 08:30 BST.

BBC Reporter Emily Hudson described "a mangled wreckage" under the bridge.

Rail services between Bournemouth and Brockenhurst have been suspended.


The bus was carrying overseas students who were studying in Bournemouth

______________________________________

At the scene: BBC Radio Solent reporter Emily Hudson

The bus kept going at least 30 metres before coming to a halt and is now surrounded by a large cordon.

The complete top of the bus has come off, with the wreckage lying in the road.

It appears the children had the sense to duck - it is a miracle no-one was more seriously hurt.

A lot of children saw what happened and there are a lot of distressed faces in the playground.

_______________________________________

The bus was carrying overseas students from an English language school in the town. They were taken into a nearby junior school where they were given first aid by staff.

A South Western Ambulance spokesman said one girl was treated for a hand injury and another suffered minor head and facial injuries.

Road closures are in place and rail engineers are assessing the bridge.

Scraped mirrors though I assume to be a daily occurrence. On my Ride Cornwall outing on Friday, 2 different buses of the 8 I travelled on scraped their mirrors on hedges, resulting in the driver having to get out and adjust his mirror at the next stop.

The firm said she also had "a minor incident involving a scraped mirror" since starting her role in June

Rochdale bus crash: Driver is 'relieved of duties'



The driver of a bus in which 17 people were injured when it went under a bridge and ripped off the roof, has been "relieved of her duties".

The double-decker crashed into a railway bridge in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on Wednesday.

First Bus said it was the driver's second incident since June but denied reports she had been suspended.

The firm and Greater Manchester Police are currently conducting separate investigations.

A First Bus spokesman said the driver had been "relieved from duty" during its inquiries and Wednesday's incident was currently not a disciplinary matter. "She suffered shock. On safety grounds we wouldn't expect the driver to get back behind the wheel at the moment. And we wouldn't expect her to work while an investigation is on going," he added.

The firm said she also had "a minor incident involving a scraped mirror" since starting her role in June.

One man suffered a broken jaw and a woman was taken to hospital with serious facial injuries after the vehicle crashed on Milkstone Road shortly before 12:30 BST.

The number 17 bus was about half-a-mile away from its usual route between Manchester and Rochdale.

Twenty-five people were on board and managed to get off the vehicle.

Rochdale bus crash: Seventeen hurt as roof shears off

A double-decker bus has crashed into a railway bridge in Rochdale, shearing off the roof and injuring 17 people.
The incident happened in Milkstone Road shortly before 12:30 BST. Fourteen ambulances were sent to the scene.
One man in his 20s suffered a broken jaw and a woman was taken to hospital with serious facial injuries.
Twenty-five people were on board and managed to get off the vehicle, which was not on its usual route. The bus company has launched an investigation.

That is a politically incorrect statement.   But I chuckled ...

Every cloud has a silver lining, I suppose. Pass me the pretty one...

Every cloud has a silver lining, I suppose. Pass me the pretty one...

From the Evening Standard:







"Everyone was standing up and seemed rather okay. A few people were hugging and consoling each other.

London bus crash: Roof ripped off packed tourist bus after it crashes into tree in Bloomsbury



The roof of a packed tourist bus was ripped off when it crashed into a tree in central London this afternoon.

Four people were taken to hospital after the cover of the bus - which had been partly open-topped - was wiped out by an overhanging branch.

Passengers were left sitting in the packed top deck with the detached roof resting up against the side after the collision in Bloomsbury.

London Ambulance Service said nine people were treated and four taken to hospital following the accident in Woburn Place, close to Russell Square Tube station.

The London Fire Brigade was forced to lift one passenger out of the upper deck.



Craig Douglas, 28, said passengers were "hugging and consoling" each other after their "miraculous" escape.

The salesman from Essex, who witnessed the aftermath, said: "The roof was hanging off even though the branch really did not look big enough to do it; I don't know how it happened.

"Everyone was standing up and seemed rather okay. A few people were hugging and consoling each other.

"It looked miraculous that everyone got away, the whole roof was off and there was glass all over the floor."

The London Fire Brigade said crews were called at 1.12pm.

A spokesman said: "Firefighters were called to Woburn Place in Bloomsbury after a tourist bus collided with the overhanging branch of a tree.

"The impact removed the roof of the bus. Four people were taken to hospital and around 40 other uninjured passengers were looked after by police and LAS staff in a nearby building."

A spokesman for LAS said: "We sent a number of resources to the scene including the hazardous area response team, a cycle responder, an advanced paramedic practitioner and London^s Air Ambulance to the scene.

"We treated nine patients in total, and we took four people to hospital."

The tour bus company has been contacted for a comment.

I wonder what the railway solution to this would be as opposed to the laissez faire attitude of the DfT Roads Executive.

Coach has its roof sheared off in low tunnel near Lille
27/07 00:41 CET

More than 30 people have been injured, six of them seriously, after a coach carrying Spanish students had its roof sheared off as it crashed into a low tunnel in northern France.

The incident happened at 5.30 Sunday morning at La Madeleine near Lille.

The injured were taken to hospital.

One student who had only been slightly injured described what happened:

^I was sleeping, I was with eyes closed. I suddenly heard a lot of sound and it smelled like smoke, and glass is broken, everywhere, people bleeding ^ a disaster.^

Dr. Fran^ois Ducrocq, who attended the accident said the crash had obviously been ^incredibly violent in nature^ and had a happened when the majority of passengers had been asleep.

The coach with 59 people on board had been en route from Bilbao to Amsterdam.
Some reports say the driver was following the vehicles GPS directions and apparently failed to see the signs showing the maximum height of the tunnel.

Those uninjured were taken to a sports centre in La Madeleine while arrangements were made for their return.

Open top down a dual carriageway sounds a great choice!

We had that bus back to Camborne this evening oh why oh why did I sit up top lol I'm still trying to warm up now!

In the interests of continuity, this one now looks like this, and lives in Cornwall. It is intended for the new Falmouth Open Top service. Seen at Penzance running day.

V124LGC by Rich.W., on Flickr

From the BBC:

Not the first time UKIP have had problems with modes of transport.  Remember Election Day 2010?  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshire/8664260.stm

Roof ripped off Thorpe Park-bound school trip bus


The double-decker had been carrying 76 pupils on an end-of-term theme park trip

Eleven passengers have been taken to hospital after the top deck of a school bus was ripped off when it hit a railway bridge.

The double-decker had been carrying 76 pupils on an end-of-term theme park trip when it reportedly took a wrong turn in Staines, Surrey. It had been due to take the children to Thorpe Park, in Chertsey, when it crashed about two miles away.

None of the children on board the bus were seriously injured. However, South East Coast Ambulance Service reported one person with a suspected back injury and a further 10 with minor injuries were taken to local hospitals. A further 58 passengers were assessed and treated at the scene.

The bus had been carrying pupils from St John's School in Epping, Essex. A statement on the school's website said the trip had been a reward for pupils awarded a high number of house points.


The roof of the bus was left on the road behind the bridge

"We have spoken to a number of staff and we are able to confirm that there are no serious injuries although some students may have suffered some cuts and bruises," it said.

Reports of the crash, at the junction of Riverside Drive and Chertsey Lane, were first received just after 10:00 GMT, The road is expected to remain closed for a significant period of time and motorists have been advised to avoid the area if possible.

Bus owner Galleon Travel said it was arranging for return travel to the school for some children, while some parents had already collected pupils.


Surrey Police said the road was expected to be closed for some time

next!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-doubledecker-bus-has-entire-roof-ripped-off-by-railway-bridge-10108592.html

Noting that it's hardly obvious from the bridge (in the background of the photos) that it's low  !!

London bus roof torn off after it hits trees

The roof of a bus has been ripped off after it hit overhanging trees in central London.

A BUS got stuck under the bridge near Taunton Railway Station this morning.



Mike Hollin took this picture of the stricken Buses of Somerset number 21 bus shortly before 7am.

According to reports from passers-by, the driver managed to free the vehicle a short time later.

Believe it or not, it^s not the first time this has happened ^ see here.

The roof of a bus has been ripped off after it hit overhanging trees in central London.

The number 91 bus hit the trees on Kingsway, near the London School of Economics (LSE) building, in Holborn.

London Ambulance Service said two people were taken to hospital with facial injuries. Two others were treated for minor injuries.

Kingsway has been closed between the Great Queen Street and A4 Aldwych junctions.


At the scene, London Fire Brigade station manager, Gary Squires, said: "Those involved were very lucky to escape serious injury."

LSE student Ethan Meade said he turned around when he heard a crash.

"I saw the roof fall down off the side of the bus and the glass shatter everywhere.

"The passengers seemed to be sitting there pretty stunned, as you'd expect. Police seemed to handle it very well."

I believe there are EU regs concerning double-decker buses.  I wonder if any of the hirers had access to them?

And another one out of gauge ... this time colliding with a railway station

http://metro.co.uk/2014/04/28/ukip-campaign-bus-collides-with-portsmouth-station-as-party-begins-election-campaign-4711694/?

And another one out of gauge ... this time colliding with a railway station

http://metro.co.uk/2014/04/28/ukip-campaign-bus-collides-with-portsmouth-station-as-party-begins-election-campaign-4711694/?

I assume they missed the word "not"

Residents in the area said that it was quite a common experience to hear vehicles strike the bridge.

Jane Smith, who lives right next door to the bridge said: "I heard the bang this morning, but I didn't look out. I hear something hitting the bridge all the time, and I just think "there's another one." It's not a rare occurrence at all."^

Cheltenham bus roof ripped off in bridge crash


The crash on Hyde Lane happened at 07:10 GMT

A double-decker bus has had its roof completely ripped off after being driven under a bridge in Cheltenham.

No passengers were on board the vehicle and the driver escaped uninjured from the crash which happened at 07:10 GMT.

As a result, Hyde Lane has been shut in both directions and will remain closed until debris has been cleared away.

The bus operator Swanbrook runs several services throughout the county, including commercial ventures and special services for schools.


There were no passengers on board the Swanbrook bus

Likewise, you shouldn't talk about "bus shelters" - they are of course "bus passenger shelters".

Not at all stuving.  As a journalist (although never in local newspapers), I'm one of the first to criticise poor writing.  I was once chastised for putting out a story about an accident involving "a concrete lorry" when it should have been "a lorry carrying concrete". 

Isn't it odd how a short item like that can contain a whole miniature detective puzzle.

Take the final quote - "The bus driver said he forgot it was a single-decker."

I was once chastised for putting out a story about an accident involving "a concrete lorry" when it should have been "a lorry carrying concrete".

..and I was going to commend the Gloucestershire Echo for getting the story on line, with a picture, within an hour of it happening.   Perhaps I won't now.

Also, what's a 'brudge'? 

Another one - this time near Cheltenham.

From the Gloucestershire Echo

A double decker bus has collided with a bridge in Hyde Lane, Cheltenham, this morning.
 
The road is blocked in both directions and police are on the scene.
 
The bridge is close to the junction with Wymans Lane and Church Road.
 
Philip Green, who lives in Hyde Lane, was walking his dog and was under the bridge when the accident happened.
 
The Swanbrook bus was driving from Swindon Village towards Bishop's Cleeve and it hit the brudge,
 
The top of the bus was sliced off in the crash.
 
Mr Greensaid: "It showered me with debris. It could have killed me. I've never walked so close to death. I escaped death by inches."
 
Mr Green was taken to hospital by paramedics.
 
There are two ambulance, two police cars at the scene and the road remains closed.
 
A shaken Harriet Tweddle, said: "I was standing waiting for the bus. I saw the bus come down and I thought he's not going to make it. There was a hell of a noise and I ran over to see if anyone was hurt.
 
"It was only the driver. He was shaken and rather embarrassed and I stayed with Philip."
 
Richard Webb, 23, said: "The bus driver said he forgot it was a single-decker."

I'd give that a seven out of ten.

This latest one just doesn't have the pure artistry of a complete removal of the roof in one piece: nor does it have the result of the upper floor seats all being left apparently unscathed.

For my favourite contender, to date, see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=6748.msg132997#msg132997 

A bus has been damaged after taking a wrong turn and hitting a railway bridge in south-west London.

The 131 double-decker bus was out of service when the collision happened at 13:00 GMT on Coombe Road in Kingston.

Transport for London (TfL) said there were no passengers on board the bus and no reported injuries.

Alex Whitman, who saw the aftermath of the crash, said: "I was quite shocked. It's one of those things you don't expect to see."

Mike Weston, TfL's Director of Buses, said: "The bridge was not damaged and rail services are unaffected.

"There were no injuries and the incident will be fully investigated."

The road has been closed in both directions.

Investigation underway into Harpenden railway bus crash



An investigation is underway after a double-decker bus crashed into a railway bridge in Harpenden this morning.

A spokesman for Uno confirmed they would be speaking to the driver as to why he was covering the wrong route, which caused the roof of the bus to be ripped off after it smashed into the railway bridge in Station Road at 8.30am this morning.

The bus has now been removed and the road has been reopened. There were no injuries as a result of the incident and the bus was empty at the time